Labelling of -biotics in feed: the European Union perspective

Speaker: Manfred LÜTZOW, PhD, Chairman & Scientific Director

Summary:

Pre- and specifically probiotics are popular product concepts widely accepted in human and animal nutrition and health in Europe. Despite their scientific acceptance, they have not been recognized specifically as regulated products in the European Union. When used in animal feed, any such product may either be feed additive or feed material. The definition of feed additive comprises microorganisms and therefore probiotics (which are living microorganisms) can only be feed additives and are regulated correspondingly. Each feed additive needs to be authorized following an assessment of its safety and efficacy. Prebiotics are usually nutrients for the microbiome (e.g. inulin) and fall into the category of feed materials, they are listed in an official feed material catalog and a voluntary register. Other -biotics such as para- or postbiotics comprise mainly dead cells, parts of cells, smaller molecules, all derived from microorganisms. Depending on their function those are either feed materials (serving the nutritional need of animals) or feed additives (exerting an additive function such as the source of the trace mineral, acidifier). The regulatory status of such -biotics needs to be assessed case-by-case depending on its source, production process, composition, conditions of use, and purposes (functionality).